Educause Severely Rebukes Blackboard

In an unprecedented action Educause has issued a strong rebuke to Blackboard Inc  over its patent action against Desire2Learn.

As reported in the Chronicle: "Brian L. Hawkins, president of Educause, said the organization's Board of Directors had voted unanimously on Sunday to encourage Blackboard "to drop the patent, drop the lawsuit," and put the technology "in the public domain."

"We think that it is in their best interest and the best interest of the broader higher-education community," Mr. Hawkins said.

Blackboard's Matthew Small replied that Educause's position would not lead to a change in the company's position (i.e. Blackboard doesn't give a shit about what the educational community and its customer base thinks).